What if?

This morning I received this poem from a friend. I thought it was worth posting. Sadly, I cannot give credit to the author because no one knows who wrote it. 
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Today’s poem was shared by Truman School Psychologist, Denise Boatwright Montanez. It has been found on numerous social media sites, blogs, and local news platforms. The author is anonymous and it is difficult to trace the original source. It has been shared many times because of the hopeful message it has  for children living under the current quarantine.

The author of the poem uses repetition, a literary device which repeats a word or phrase throughout in order to emphasize a theme or concept.

Thank you Ms. Boatwright!

Please feel free to share, post, and enjoy!

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What if???

If they cancel the rest of the school year, students would miss 2.5 months of education. Many people are concerned about students falling behind because of this. Yes, they may fall behind when it comes to classroom education...

But what if...

What if instead of falling “behind", this group of kids is ADVANCED because of this? 

Hear me out...

What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing. ❤️

What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own backyard and sitting near a window in the quiet. ❤️

What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower? ❤️

What if this generation is the ones to learn to cook, organize their space, do their laundry, and keep a well-run home? ❤️

What if they learn to stretch a dollar and to live with less? ❤️

What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home. ❤️

What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday? ❤️

What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, cashiers, custodians, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions taking care of us right now while we are sheltered in place? ❤️

What if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life?❤️

What if they are AHEAD?

-Anonymous

We are in the same storm

I saw this on a friend’s  Facebook page (author unknown) and thought it summed up the COVID-19 situation so perfectly. May we weather this storm together. So please be kind and know....

WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT

I heard it said that we are all in the same boat, but it's not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal: a moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis.

In some homes a sole occupant faces endless loneliness. In others, family members are getting peace, rest, and time with each other — while in still others, quarantine means an increased danger due to domestic violence.

With the $600 weekly increase in unemployment some are bringing in more money to their households than they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales.

Some families of 4 just received $3400 from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw $0.

Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don't qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.

Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday.

Some have experienced the near death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don't believe this is a big deal.

Some have faith in God and expect miracles during this 2020. Others say the worst is yet to come.

So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing.

We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey.

Unknown author

Easter 2020

Many of us will not be celebrating Easter with our loved ones this year due to Covid-19.

Due to the world's circumstances, this Easter will be very different from years past.  

Let's welcome Easter 2020 with hope in our hearts, peace in our days, joy in our souls, 

and trust in God that things will get better.